Munoz, Ernst lead LPGA's Kingsmill Championship

Each closing strong down the stretch, Austin Ernst and Azahara Munoz shot 65 Thursday to lead the LPGA's Kingsmill Championship.

Munoz birdied four of her last seven holes to end a bogey-free round, while Ernst bogeyed after making the turn but eagled No. 3 and birdied Nos. 7 and 9 on the way in.

A recent adjustment in her mental approach earned Munoz's attention after her round.

"I've been having a much better attitude," said Munoz, who lost a playoff to Paula Creamer in March. "When I miss a shot, I don't let it get to me so much like I used to. I used to get pretty upset, and that really hurt me."

Munoz and Ernst seemed to agree that winds made things a little tougher.

"Gave myself a lot of looks, hit a lot of greens and made it really easy on myself out there on a day when it was pretty windy and it could kind of get away from you a little bit."

Hee Young Park is a shot back, citing a strong putting round. Two shots back and T-4 are seven players including defending champion Cristie Kerr and Kraft Nabisco Championship winner Lexi Thompson.

In the battle for the world No. 1 ranking, Stacy Lewis and Lydia Ko shot 70 to open the tournament among 19 players T-29 at 1 under. Either could pass Inbee Park, who is not playing this week.

A. Lee among pack of collegians headed to LPGA

Nobody handed Cheyenne Woods an LPGA card. She earned it the old-fashioned way, playing on developmental tours to earn her stripes and then grinding over a 3-footer for par on her 90th hole of LPGA Q-School to realize a lifelong dream.

Lee's solid play could bring UCLA career to a close

Cheyenne Woods showed the kind of resolve it takes to survive LPGA Q-School; One day after posting a head-scratching 79, Woods came to the more forgiving Jones Course at LPGA International and notched seven birdies.

Cheyenne Woods bounces back at LPGA Q-School

Cheyenne Woods bounced back in the third round of LPGA Q-School's final stage with a 67.
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Mark Sims / LPGA Tour
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Stacy Lewis swept LPGA postseason honors, winning Rolex Player of the Year, the Vare Trophy and the money title, but she had to share the spotlight with Lydia Ko, who won the CME Group Tour Championship and the CME Race to the Globe bonus check Sunday in Naples, Fla.

Julieta Granada won the first $1 million payout in LPGA history as a rookie in 2006 at the ADT Championship. Funny how Granada has found her way back to the top now that a $1 million prize has returned to the tour.

Granada leads LPGA finale, drama heightens

Julieta Granada, who hasn't won on the LPGA tour since 2006, leads the CME Group Tour Championship by a single shot entering the final round.
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Associated Press
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It didn’t take long for Stacy Lewis to start crunching numbers. Moments after she wrapped her post-round interview, Lewis headed to the back of the room to look at a closer breakdown of Race to the Globe scenarios.

For Lewis, LPGA finale all about scenarios

After finishing the third round of the CME Group Tour Championship, Stacy Lewis spent time considering the scenarios that could play out in the final round.
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Associated Press
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No one can cause a stir on the red carpet like Michelle Wie. And when she follows an evening of glamor with a smooth 67 to vault up the leaderboard at the CME Group Tour Championship, well, it’s doubly fantastic for the LPGA.

Red-carpet star Wie climbs leaderboard in Naples

Michelle Wie during the Rolex Awards Banquet in Naples. Through 36 holes of the CME Group Tour Championship, Wie is two shots off the lead.
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Photo Courtesy of LPGA/Gabriel Roux
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